Environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system and method of use

Abstract

An environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system includes an ecologically friendly package of highly recyclable material such as one of a metal or glass container with an integral brush applicator; or a paper container with a wax or other oil-resistant, non-permeable interior. The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system includes a lubricant contained within the package, the lubricant being substantially free of petroleum oil distillates and comprising one of either a lanolin based lubricant which comprises a mixture of lanolin within a carrier, wherein the carrier is a non-drying or semi-non-drying, plant-based oil or a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system comprising
 An ecologically friendly package comprising one of
 i) A metal or glass container with an integral brush applicator; or 
 ii) A paper container with a wax or other oil-resistant non-permeable interior; and 
   a lubricant contained within the package, the lubricant being substantially free of petroleum oil distillates and comprising one of either
 i) a lanolin based lubricant which comprises a mixture of lanolin within a carrier, wherein the carrier is a non-drying or semi-non-drying, plant-based oil or 
 ii) a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin. 
   
     
     
         2 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 1  wherein the ecologically friendly package is a steel can. 
     
     
         3 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 2  wherein the steel can has a screw-on lid with an integral horse hair applicator brush. 
     
     
         4 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 3  wherein the ecologically friendly package is a steel can. 
     
     
         5 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 4  wherein a lanolin based lubricant is provided and the lanolin oil is present in the lanolin oil based lubricant mixture in about 5% by weight to about 50% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 5  wherein the plant-based oil is present in the lanolin oil based lubricant mixture in about 50% by weight to about 95% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 6  wherein the plant-based oil is canola oil and is present in the lanolin oil based lubricant mixture in about 60% by weight to about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 7  wherein the lanolin oil is present in the lanolin oil based lubricant mixture in about 20% by weight to about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 1  wherein the lubricant includes lanolin. 
     
     
         10 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 1  wherein a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin is provided. 
     
     
         11 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 10  wherein the soap forming the water soluble mixture has at least 50% Palm oil by weight of the oil forming the soap. 
     
     
         12 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 10   claim 1  wherein the lubricant includes lanolin. 
     
     
         13 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 12  wherein the ecologically friendly package is a glass container having a screw-on lid with an integral horse hair applicator brush. 
     
     
         14 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 12  wherein the lanolin meets or exceeds United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. 
     
     
         15 . The environmentally friendly bicycle chain and gear maintenance system according to  claim 1  wherein the ecologically friendly package is a single use paper container with a wax or other oil-resistant non-permeable interior. 
     
     
         16 . An environmentally friendly lubricant, the lubricant being substantially free of petroleum oil distillates and comprising one of either i) a lanolin based lubricant which comprises a mixture of lanolin within a carrier, wherein the carrier is a non-drying or semi-non-drying, plant-based oil, or ii) a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin. 
     
     
         17 . The environmentally lubricant according to  claim 16  wherein a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin is provided, and wherein the soap forming the water soluble mixture has at least 50% Palm oil by weight of the oil forming the soap. 
     
     
         18 . The environmentally friendly lubricant according to  claim 17  wherein the lubricant includes lanolin. 
     
     
         19 . The environmentally friendly lubricant according to  claim 18  including a lanolin based lubricant which comprises a mixture of lanolin within a carrier, wherein the carrier is a non-drying or semi-non-drying, plant-based oil. 
     
     
         20 . An environmentally friendly method of bicycle chain and gear maintenance comprising the steps of:
 A) Selecting an ecologically friendly package of highly recyclable material comprising one of
 i) A metal or glass container with an integral brush applicator; or 
 ii) A paper container with a wax or other oil-resistant, non-permeable interior; 
   B) Providing a lubricant contained within the package, the lubricant being substantially free of petroleum oil distillates and comprising one of either
 i) a lanolin based lubricant which comprises a mixture of lanolin within a carrier, wherein the carrier is a non-drying or semi-non-drying, plant-based oil or 
 ii) a water soluble lubricant comprising a mixture of 25% to 75% of a surfactant which is a soap and 25% to 75% of glycerin; 
   Lubricating a bicycle chain with the lanolin oil based lubricant.